Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Lavender is the most versatile herb. That phrase is often heard in the world of aromatherapy. Lavender has so many uses. Research has shown it is low in toxicity and that it is safe and gentle to use even with children and the elderly. It is an adaptogen, that is, a substance that adapts to what the body needs or is lacking. There are few herbs that have all these characteristics.
This month we will provide a list of tips and techniques to give you a look at the variety of uses Lavender has. No home should be without Lavender essential oil. Consider it a main staple in aromatherapy.
Because Lavender is safe to use, it is one of the few oils that can be applied "neat" to the skin. That is, you can use it without diluting. However, always use common scents with all oils and do a patch test first.
Lavender is a member of the mint family. Its name is derived from the Latin word, Lavare, which means "to wash". Lavender baths were a favorite of the Romans and that tradition continues on today in spa treatments, foot baths, and as floral water used for facial splashes and complexion spritzers.
These tiny and fragrant flowers bloom from July through September. Harvest the flowers when fully mature. Hang upside down to dry. This allows all the healing properties to concentrate in the buds. These dried flowers will last for years if kept dry and away from sunlight and heat.
Well known for its calming attributes, Lavender is often used for insomnia, restlessness, stress and anxiety. Simply inhaling the fragrance will effect the central nervous system. It balances the body to what it needs. When the body is wound up or over stimulated, it will actually act as a sedative and calm the body down. This is of great help in the evening and awesome with kids. A simple sachet tucked inside a pillowcase or a bowl laying near the bed spreads the fragrance throughout a room. Spraying the sheets with a Lavender spritzer is great when turning in at night. A Lavender bath is also good at the end of a day for relaxing aching and overworked muscles including tired feet.
Now on the other hand, its wonderful adaptogen qualities actually uplift a sluggish body by acting as a stimulant to the nervous system. Great when feeling emotionally down or depressed and during midday slumps.
Lavender also has many beneficial medicinal qualities. Including anti-bacterial and antiseptic actions. When you spray it in a room it kills airborne germs. Spray it on door knobs, phones and take it with you when you travel.
Internally, drank as a tea, Lavender's antispasmodic actions reduce muscle tension and relieve cramps, gas, nausea and vomiting. Also beneficial for expelling intestinal worms.
Used topically as a poultice with the dried herb or with the pure essential oil, Lavender's analgesic properties make it great and quick relief for headaches, arthritis, any aches and pains whether internally or from a wound or injury. Keep a vial of pure Lavender essential oil in the medicine chest. Use in place of neosporine and get pain relief with anti-bacterial healing.
Most people think of Lavender as a common fragrance often associated with grandma. We found little sachets tucked in closets, under the beds and in old chests full of blankets. We didn't really know what was in them, most of us just assumed it was to make things smell better. Well that is one benefit, but Lavender is a natural insecticidal. It keeps spiders and moths from making homes in these closed off places. The scent last for years and every time it gets moved it reactivates for longer yet.
Here is a list of some of Lavender's therapeutic properties: Analgesic, anticonvulsive, antidepressant, antimicrobial, antirheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, detoxifier, carminative, deodorant, diuretic, hypotensive, insecticide, nervine, parasiticide, sedative, stimulant, stomachic, tonic, vermifuge and vulneray, among others.
Common uses for Lavender:
Skin Care
Abcesses, acne, allergies, athlete's foot, boils, bruises, burns,
dandruff, earache, eczema, insect bites and stings, insect repellent,
lice, ringworm, sores, sunburn, wounds.
Circulation, Muscles & Joints
Lumbago, muscular aches and pains, rheumatism, sprains.
Respiratory System
Asthma, bronchitis, halitosis, laryngitis, throat infections,
whooping cough.
Digestive System
Abdominal cramps, colic, dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea, motion
sickness and stimulates gastric juices.
Nervous System
Depression, headache, hypertension, insomnia, migraine, nervous
tension and stress related conditions, PMS, shock and vertigo.
Dried Lavender Herb Usage
Tea -1 teaspoon of dried or 2 teaspoons fresh Lavender flowers.
Steep 10 minutes.
Great remedy for digestive problems. Has a relaxing effect, good
for irritability, headaches and depression.
Bath -Place 1/4 cup of Lavender flowers in a small muslin bag
or large
tea ball. Steep while you bathe.
Helps heal wounds, burns and sore muscles. Has anti-bacterial
and antiseptic properties.
Lavender Water -
Stimulates complexion, aromatic astringent, cleanses skin.
Pure Essential Oil Usage
Inhalation - Relieves stress, nervous tension, depression,
calms emotions and induces sleep.
Bites & Stings - Rubbed on insect bites, it relieves pain
and inflammation. It can be used to treat scabies
and head lice.
Earache - Place 2 drops of neat Lavender oil on cotton ball
and plug into the ear.
Massage - Apply directly to sore, exhausted muscles. Rub
on sprains, strains & stiff joints. Particularly good for
dry skin. Tip: Mixing 12 to 30 drops of essential oil to a carrier
oil such as Sweet Almond Oil, makes it go a lot further and it's
easier to cover larger areas.
First Aid - Apply to burns, cuts, scratches, pimples, wounds.
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